Valtteri Filppula is returning to Joe Louis Arena tonight
for his first game in Detroit since leaving the Red Wings as a free agent last summer to sign
with the Tampa Bay Lighting.

After spending the first seven years of his career in
Detroit, Filppula went south when he couldn't come to a contract agreement with
the Red Wings. He wanted a deal that would pay him $5 million per season
and when the Red Wings weren't willing to pay that much, he found a team that
would.

To replace Filppula, the Red Wings went to Florida and
signed free-agent center Stephen Weiss to a five-year deal worth $4.9 million
per season. While Filppula has played well with the Lightning, Weiss has
struggled offensively.

Stamkos is tied for
second in the NHL with 13 goals and has scored in five straight games. Stamkos
has three multi-goal games this season and is coming off a two-goal performance
in Thursday's 4-2 victory over Edmonton.